Best of the Adriatic in 14 Days Tour

Our Adriatic adventure explores Europe's "new frontier" — and it offers rich rewards. You'll meander from pristine hill towns to sun-soaked islands, lacing together the best destinations in this diverse corner of Europe: Slovenia's Ljubljana and fairy-tale Lake Bled; Croatia's seaside Rovinj, waterfall-laced Plitvice, historic Split, Hvar Island, Korčula and picture-perfect Dubrovnik; and an enlightening visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina's once-war-torn town of Mostar. Along the way, your Rick Steves guide will bring you intimate encounters with European cultures that mainstream travelers often miss. Join us for the Best of the Adriatic in 14 Days!

Fine print: You are responsible for the cost of your drinks and free-time sightseeing. See our Tour Conditions Agreement for important details regarding everything listed above

Itinerary

Daily Activity Key

Light = 2-4 miles of mostly level walking throughout the day.

Moderate = 2-6 miles walking throughout the day with some hills and stairs.

Strenuous = 2-8 miles walking throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs and uneven terrain.

Day 1: Welcome to Ljubljana

We'll meet at our hotel in the pretty Slovenian capital city of Ljubljana around 5 p.m. After an orientation walk through our university-area neighborhood, we'll enjoy getting acquainted over dinner together. Sleep in Ljubljana (2 nights). No bus. Walking: light.

Day 2: Architectural Riches of Ljubljana

Today we'll take a walking tour through the heart of Ljubljana, including the colorful riverside market, the playfully Art Nouveau Dragon Bridge, and the town's lively main square dedicated to Slovenia's greatest poet, France Prešeren. We'll also enjoy seeing and hearing about the architectural adventures of native born architect Jože Plečnik along the way. The afternoon and evening are yours to wander around this lovely city, try one of the outdoor cafés along the river, and maybe hike up to the castle to enjoy the city view. No bus. Walking: light.

Day 3: Slovenia's Lakes and Alps

A short drive into Slovenia's Julian Alps brings us to the azure jewel of Lake Bled. We'll take in the panoramic view from Bled's hilltop castle, then leave you with free time to stroll around the lakeside town, or maybe hop aboard a boat to the chapel-topped island. After lunch we'll have a scenically-winding, mountain-pass drive to the breathtaking Soča River Valley, where we'll enjoy dinner of local delicacies together. Sleep in or near Kobarid (1 night). Bus: 6 hrs. Walking: moderate.

Day 4: Crossing Paths with Hemingway

This morning we'll tour the local museum, learning about the WWI years when soldiers (including an ambulance driver named Hemingway) faced incredible hardship in the mountains around Kobarid, described in "A Farewell to Arms." We'll enjoy a local-style lunch together, sampling the tasty prsut (prosciutto), and the best wines around. We'll then follow Slovenia's small slice of Adriatic Coast on our way to the rolling hills of Croatia's Istrian Peninsula and the hill town of Motovun. Sleep in a former castle in Motovun (2 nights). Bus: 4 hrs. Walking: strenuous.

Day 5: Istrian Peninsula

We'll spend our day exploring the Istrian Peninsula, studded with Roman ruins, Venetian architecture, and a landscape evocative of pre-tourist Tuscany. We'll time-travel through Pula's 1st-century Roman amphitheater with a local expert, then set you free to enjoy the seaside town of Rovinj. Hang out by the harbor, or walk the art-lined streets to the church of St. Euphemia and learn the surprising legend of how the saint's sarcophagus got there. Tonight's dinner featuring local specialties will be in the tucked-away town of Brtonigla. We'll return to our Motovun hotel tonight, stuffed and happy. Bus: 4 hrs. Walking: strenuous.

Day 6: Opatija and Plitvice

Today we'll stop in seaside Opatija, where you'll have time to wander amidst its beautifully manicured parks and belle époque villas along the Kvarner Gulf, before heading inland to the deep greens and blues of Croatia's water wonderland and one of Europe's premier nature preserves: Plitvice Lakes National Park. We'll have dinner together and sleep in or near the National Park, surrounded by the quiet of nature (1 night). Bus: 5 hrs. Walking: light.

Day 7: Lakes to the Coast

You'll have all morning to hike along rustic boardwalk trails connecting the idyllic forests, travertine stone cliffs, clear blue lakes and gushing waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes National Park. We'll learn how the park is creatively managing to protect its delicate environment, including the use of electric trams and boats. After a lunch break, we'll drive along the Dinaric Alps to the Dalmatian Coast and the not-so-sleepy seaside town of Split. This evening we'll walk to the walls of the Roman Emperor Diocletian's palace, and enjoy dinner together in a cozy, family-run konoba. Sleep in Split (2 nights). Boat: ½ hr. Bus: 5 hrs. Walking: strenuous.

Day 8: The Roman Heart of Split

We'll get introduced to Split with a walking tour through its Old Town — including remains of the Roman Peristyle, the unusual Cathedral of St. Dominus, and Jupiter's Temple — all of which lies within the walls of the despotic Roman Emperor Diocletian's immense palace. The afternoon and evening are yours to enjoy Split's museums including the sculptures of the world-class Meštrović Gallery, or relax with an espresso along the waterfront promenade. No bus. Walking: moderate.

Day 9: Dalmatian Island-Hopping

After breakfast we'll board a boat bound for the Dalmatian island of Hvar, where you'll have free time to climb atop the fortress and explore the quaint old harbor town, fast becoming a ritzy haunt of Europe's jet-setting class. We'll end our island-hopping day in the more relaxed island town of Korčula, where we'll sleep (2 nights). Boat: 3 hrs. Bus: 1 hr. Walking: moderate.

Day 10: Island Relaxation

Today you are free to wander the narrow cobbled streets of Korčula's medieval quarter, poke around its Cathedral of St. Mark, and imagine the tales its Venetian villas could tell. This could also be a fun day to go for a swim, snorkel, or rent a boat. We'll dry off and regroup for a little happy hour boat cruise in the evening. Boat: 1 hr. No bus. Walking: light to strenuous (your choice).

Day 11: Eye-Opening Bosnia-Herzegovina

We'll begin our day with a short ferry ride back to the mainland and then cross the border into formerly war-torn Bosnia-Herzegovina. After lunch we'll make our way to Mostar, a town that serves up a fascinating blend of south Slavic, Ottoman Turkish and Mediterranean cultural traditions. Before dinner together, our local guide will take us on a thought-provoking walk and teach us about war and the siege of Mostar in the 1990s. We'll visit Mostar's rebuilt Old Bridge, the Kujundžiluk bazaar and a traditional mosque. Sleep in Mostar (1 night). Boat: ½ hr. Bus: 4 hrs. Walking: strenuous.

Day 12: Rural Herzegovina

Today we'll take a long and scenic country drive through untouristed Herzegovina on our way to Dubrovnik. En route we'll discover the source of the Buna river and share coffee in the village of Blagaj before stopping in nearby Stolac to see the medieval Stećci tombstones that dot the fields and learn about the town's tumultuous past. After lunch together we'll drive through the predominantly Serbian Republika Srpska region, stopping at a monastery to learn about the Orthodox religion. After we arrive at our hotel in Dubrovnik, your guide will orient you to this Pearl of the Adriatic and set you free to sample the local cuisine and do a little exploring on your own. We'll sleep outside Dubrovnik's old city wall in the Lapad district, right by the sea (2 nights). Bus: 6 hrs. Walking: moderate.

Day 13: Dazzling Dubrovnik

We'll begin our day with a walking tour of the architectural treasures within the 800-year-old city walls of Dubrovnik, long ago its own republic and a rival of the powerful Venetians. We'll learn about the city's dramatic history — including the siege of 1991 — as we tour its traffic-free promenade and old harbor. Then you'll be free to roam this stone city and its walkable walls that seem to have sprouted up out of the sea. Tonight we'll have a feast of local specialties together as we share travel memories and toast new friends. Živjeli! No bus. Walking: strenuous.

Day 14: Tour Over After Breakfast

Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. Your guide will help arrange affordable taxi/shuttle rides to Dubrovnik's airport, 40 minutes away. From there, you can fly to Zagreb and other European cities. Do viđenija!

Itinerary specifics subject to change.

Activity Level

Our tours are physically active! It’s an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. On our Best of the Adriatic in 14 Days tour — among other things — you'll need to happily...

Carry/roll your luggage over uneven pavement (several blocks possible) and up stairways to reach your hotel; then up several flights of stairs to reach your room.

Be on your feet, walking and standing for up to three hours, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions.

Sleep with street noise and no (or weak) air conditioning.

After orientation and transportation lessons, be able to navigate towns and cities on your own.

Travel on a bus without a toilet (rest stops every two hours).

Reviews

Marilyn

Ft Mill, SC

Tour: 06/21/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was a surprising experience for me. I knew little or nothing of the history and beauty and culture of this Eastern European location. Each of the three countries reflected a difference of values, economy, religion, and cuisine. The beauty of the Adriatic Sea was fabulous.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sounds and sights at Plitvice Lakes National Park were breathtaking. As we hiked along, a peacefulness and appreciation of nature surrounded us."

Belinda

Kenmore, WA

Tour: 06/21/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This trip exceeded my expectations. Sinel was a fabulous guide. The trip was well planned out and our time there was maximized. Sinel did a great job of adding in some little things that made the trip even more local. I loved having local guides tour us around their cities. The contrast of experiencing the devastation of Bosnia along with the beauty of Slovenia and Croatia was profound.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes National Park was fantastic."

Valerie

Arlington, VA

Tour: 06/21/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was really impressed with our guide Sanel. He was excellent. Dan was also very nice.
I really enjoyed the contrasts and variety the tour's schedule provided. I feel like i got to see
a lot of different kinds of places in the area and also learned a lot from the guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My first swim in the Adriatic off Hvar island. The water was so clear and beautiful colors."

Gail

New South Wales,

Tour: 06/21/15

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour overall was excellent, our guides were very knowledgable and sanel has a great sense of humour. as Australians we were welcomed into the fold and loved every moment of it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Bosnia touched us all, I don't think I have ever felt so moved by such tradegy.
The lakes district was stunning, the wow factor for me was driving along the Dalmatiin Coast."

Rex

New South Wales,

Tour: 06/21/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well, it starts with Sanel, he was the key to a brilliant experience, his knowledge, his sense of humour and his compassion for people was amazing. It was summed at our final night dinner, "a wonderful human being". His trials and tribulations in life were completely submerged in his great sense of humour, his compassion for the new children that will form the future of Bosnia and his work with those children. The tour therefore already had a head start and was a real eye opener to the Balkans.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The whole experience, I guess the realisation that the Balkans were not a third world region was my great surprise and instead of going back to Italy when I want to spend some special time I will go back to clean, hygienic Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia."

Coyla

Madison, WI

Tour: 06/21/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sanel and Dan were great tour leaders, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and fun. The group of travelers all understood and cooperated with the Rick Steves credo of not being grumps and having fun. The locations were beautiful, hotels were great, meals were wonderful. I have wanted to travel the Dalmation coast for years, and my expectations were exceeded by this tour. Visiting cities, countryside, museums, parks, and the Adriatic provided a perfect balance.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were lots of "wow" moments, but the absolute best was hiking through the Plitvice National Park. The Park is well maintained, the aluminum board walk was well marked, and the waterfalls were spectacular! I've seen a few big waterfalls around the earth, but the variety, and sheer numbers of falls, big and small, puts this park in the top 3."

Dawn

Anchorage, AK

Tour: 06/21/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour so we weren't sure how we would like it. We appreciated that the group was small and we learned a lot about the countries that we visited. Our tour guide Sanel was fantastic. He taught us a lot of things and was personable, funny and easy to work with. We came away from this tour with a much better understanding of the former Yugoslavia and its history and culture. Had a great time and hope to travel with Rick Steves again in the future.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved Ljubljana ( favorite city we had never heard of before). Also loved walking the walls of Dubrovnik and all the beautiful views from there."

John

Giddings, TX

Tour: 06/21/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Greatly enjoyed. Especially the tour of our guides home town Stolac. In addition to the "500 character limit" (see below)...Croatia was nice however I am really not into the cheap Chinese rip off trinkets and "flip flop beach crowd". Most enjoyed were the small towns and villages along the way...Ston, Stolac, Motovun,...etc.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the small cemeteries in Mostar. I did not take pictures because I thought somehow that would be inappropriate. However, even though at the time it was not that impressive, it has had a very lasting impression on me since that time of the tour.
I absolutely adored Motovun. And, I would have been happy to spend the next week and a half there...
I like small villages and places that are not popular with tourists."

Bill

Martinez, CA

Tour: 06/14/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first guided tour, and I was a little concerned about the restrictions to my free exploring and to how what kind of travel partners I would end up with. I was pleasantly surprised on both counts. it is true there were a couple of times I would like to have a little more time to do something different than the group plan, but this was more than made up for by the depth of experience your tour guides added. I could not have asked for better group of travel partners. Each one brought t

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Edin in Stolac. I watched the events of the conflict on TV at the time, but his personal story took me right into the moment. Also right up there was the end of our evening on the tower at Massimos, hanging out in this amazing place with a group of new friends, only days before were total strangers."

Susan

Voorheesville, NY

Tour: 06/14/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our (husband and self) first tour experience. My expectations were low since I wasn't as attracted to the destination as my husband, and I didn't expect to enjoy being part of a group tour. I freely admit my expectations were exceeded on every level. I had a wonderful, memorable, totally enjoyable experience. I can honestly think of nothing that would have made my overall tour experience better.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is an impossible question for me to answer, even though I have given it much consideration. At least once each day (seriously!) I had a "wow" moment, and I find I cannot select one as a favorite. With difficulty I could choose one favorite "wow" moment relating to a site, a view, a meal, a sound, or a tactile sense, but personal interactions were a huge "wow" component of the tour and they are all interwoven."

Natalie

Ann Arbor, MI

Tour: 06/14/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What made the trip outstanding: the tour guide and the beauty we saw.
Slovenia and Croatia were more beautiful and well-maintained than we had expected, but the contrast of Bosnia was eye-opening and important to see.
Good balance of free time to explore on our own.
Congenial fellow travelers; everybody on time, no grumps.
New, comfortable bus and outstanding driver who drove smoothly and carefully.
Appreciated excellent locations for sightseeing and rest breaks.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In Dubrovnik, Saso led us to the "hole in the wall" bar on the rocks where we enjoyed a glass of wine, listened to the lapping waves and viewed the sunset. It was an amazing time."

Tessa

Martinez, CA

Tour: 06/14/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour, we had some concerns whether it will be a good fit with the way we like to travel -- independent and on our own schedule. We have been to Europe many times on our own and enjoyed all our trips tremendously. This time, we decided last minute to do a June trip and wanted to visit countries we haven't visited before, and decided to try out Rick Steves tours . In a nutshell, we were very impressed about how the whole tour was designed & executed was outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seems like there were wow moments every day, but the visit to Plitvice National Park was a favorite. That was symbolic of the natural beauty of the places we visited. The other favorite is meeting the excellent local guides -- their stories and obvious love for their towns put the "faces" and made everything more personal."

David

Alexandria, VA

Tour: 06/14/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was great! I wasn't sure about the day in Bosnia before the trip, but it was worth it to learn that about the recent history of the disintegration of Yugoslavia. Unfortunately, we also learned that Bosnia still has a ways to go in dealing with the tribalism that caused so many problems. The highlights for me were Plitvice and Dubrovnik, but Ljubljana, Motovun, Split and Korcula were all very enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice National Park was gorgeous, with Dubrovnik a very close second. At Plitvice, the waterfalls kept getting better and better, saving the best for last."

Mark

Houston, TX

Tour: 06/14/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Beautiful, relaxfull, and educational.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking through Plitvice Lakes National Park and seeing a waterfall around every turn.
Second wow moment was Millan (Bus driver), sorry if I misspelled his name, navigating the bus through the "scenic" mountain pass, 100 switchbacks???, on the way to the Soca River Valley. Even though it was a cloudy, misty day, the scenery was great."

David

Ann Arbor, MI

Tour: 06/14/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What made the trip outstanding: the tour guide and the beauty we saw.
Slovenia and Croatia were more beautiful and well-maintained than we had expected, but the contrast of Bosnia was eye-opening and important to see.
Good balance of free time to explore on our own.
Congenial fellow travelers; everybody on time, no grumps.
New, comfortable bus and outstanding driver who drove smoothly and carefully.
Appreciated excellent locations for sightseeing and rest breaks.

Favorite "WOW" moment

Marcia

Fort Pierce, FL

Tour: 06/14/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderful. Saso was an outstanding guide, great group of 18 positive travelers, seafood so fresh and deliciously prepared, terrific weather with temperatures mainly in the 70s and low 80s, locals friendly and mostly English speaking, so language was not an issue. I could go on and on, but you get the idea. It is a wonderful, safe feeling area to visit with beautiful scenery and lots of fun things to do and see.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved hiking in the Plitvice Lakes National Park. It had rained the day before, so the waterfalls were very full and gorgeous! We had great suggestions from Saso about how best to avoid the crowds, as it is a very popular tourist attraction. Bosnia with the local guides to explain the impact of the war on them and their countrymen was very eye-opening. I appreciated learning more about the war in Bosnia, the aftermath, and the struggles they still encounter."

Don

Fort Pierce, FL

Tour: 06/14/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was exceptional. I was surprised how beautiful the hilltop villages and coastal towns were. The combination of vineyards, mountains and the sea was incredible. The people were amazingly friendly and spoke excellent English, which made traveling there easy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The whole trip was filled with little Wow moments every day."

Alan

Voorheesville, NY

Tour: 06/14/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first group tour of any kind. Our previous overseas travel had been independent. The tour exceeded our expectations. Our guide and bus driver were excellent. The balance between group activities and independent time was very good and we enjoyed both. The included meals were excellent and gave us a taste of the cuisines of the countries we were visiting. Best of all we were able to see and experience much more than if we traveled on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everyday had its "wow' moments. However, the most affecting and powerful moment for me was when Edin, our guide in Stolac, told the story of how he led his Serb and Bosniak students into school through the front door and was fired for doing so. Education in the Croat dominated town of Stolac is segregated and Serb and Bosniak students are forced to enter school through the back door."

Dawn

Bremerton, WA

Tour: 06/07/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We chose this Rick Steves Eastern Europe/Adriatic tour to celebrate our 40th anniversary. We've always wanted to see this part of the world and didn't want to hassle with doing it on our own with language and alphabet differences. What a great decision. Our guides were very knowledgeable, as were the local guides we had, especially in Bosnia where we got very personal viewpoints of the war in the 1990s. We definitely had more enriched experiences than had we done the trip ourselves.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to choose! Was it the beauty of Plitvice Park? Or was it listening to the Klapa singers and then our group singing for them a folk song that Anja had taught us? Too many moments to pick from!"

Ross

Boulder, CO

Tour: 06/07/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was the right balance of scheduled time, including historical insights, and free time to roam and explore. All guides were excellent in both their knowledge and their presentations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many special moments, but the waterfalls at Plitvice were almost too beautiful and powerful to comprehend. Exploring towns like Rovinj and Korcula was fascinating. Including Bosnia, and hearing first-hand of the political challenges, was a great learning experience."

Stephanie

Boulder, CO

Tour: 06/07/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first tour and I was a bit apprehensive about traveling with 20 people on a tight schedule. It was a wonderful experience due to the manner in which all the parameters for the group were set up( buddy system.ease of check in, sitting in a different seat on the bus),and the social skills and fun personalities of our guide and tour assistant

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes were just amazing and Dubrovnik is truly a jewel of the Adriatic. Korcula was a great choice for a vacation from our vacation."

Richard

Bremerton, WA

Tour: 06/07/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

great tour. great guide, local guides & driver. Great group of people

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes National Park
the WWI museum experience was amazing. so much wealth or knowledge also stored in his head that can never be captured (bummer).
also loved Diocletian's palace
so many wonderful days and experiences. it is hard to single out great in a sea of excellence.
it was sad to leave at the end"

William

Bainbridge Island, WA

Tour: 06/07/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour exceeded our expectations in terms of the outstanding guides, the friends we made, the bus and its wonderful driver Ales, the hotels, the meals, and the chance to see and better understand this beautiful and challenging region.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our tour gave us the unexpected opportunity to meet and talk with local people from Bosnia who represented differing viewpoints of the difficult situation in that country. Without the RS tour, we would never have made these contacts and heard their stories."

Cheryl

Pasadena, CA

Tour: 05/26/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We've gone with Rick Steve's books to Europe on our own 5 times but this is our 1st tour with you. I loved the experience and found the tour exceeded my expectations. Not only did I see most of what Rick Steve wrote about, the timing and flow of the days' event was seamlessly thought out. Our main tour guide, Marijan and all the other local guides were exceptionally knowledgeable and their presentations were effortlessly easy to understand and latch on. We look forward to the next trip soon.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were more than one but the 1st one was when we stopped along the Soca Valley and heading toward the Julian Alps. In the midst of awesome snow-capped mountains we were treated by our guide, Marijan and the driver, Yanez, to Slovenian cakes and a taste of local liquor. That was a total surprise to us and we thoroughly enjoyed it."

Daniel

Hinsdale, IL

Tour: 05/26/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A unique combination of intense cultural education and relaxation - many coffee breaks and pastries! Great natural beauty, complex architecture from Roman, Ottoman, Venetian, Austrian and Yugoslavian eras. And tragic remainders of many wars - including Europe's most recent conflict.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of the So?a valley - and the history museum dedicated to the memory of the 1.2 million men who died in the WWI battle to control this passage through the Julian Alps."

Robert

Santa Rosa, CA

Tour: 05/26/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

"Overall tour experience" would have to be rated a "10". I am disinclined to quibble about anything, although I could suggest some "fine-tuning". But won't. First, my deepest gratitude for the great good luck of having Marijan (scholar, humorist, good shepherd) as our guide. This is a wonderful human being and it was a privilege to be in his company. Bravo! He was a perfect fit and I cannot imagine having the same level of exposition, learning and fun without him as our guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were big and little "wows" (this may not be helpful): the whole tour was a Wow. The accommodations very good, the food terrific, and the bus and driver first class. Ljubljana and the Julian Alps were a Wow being such an unexpected sight, calling for a return. The Bosnia portion and its history was a "wow" in a dark sense because of the grim history and status of the people and country. Worthwhile but a "downer" and Marijan, plus the local guides, made tragic sense of it. Tour=Wow."

Louis

Pasadena, CA

Tour: 05/26/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

For this tour, I expected to experience the Adriatic countries' natural beauty which I had heard so much before. But, I was surprised that the experience has turned out to encompasses not only the natural beauties of mountains, lakes and waterfalls, but also legacies of civilization building from the time of Antiquity to current days, remnants of destructions through wars, and the local people's determinations to rebuild life and country. So rich an experience all packed in one single tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"If I can take the "wow" moment to mean one that puts me in awe, it has to be the touring of Emperor Diocletian's palace in Split. Standing inside the remains of this historical structure and possibly on the same spot as the emperor once did over 1,800 years ago, I could almost feel the awesome power of the Roman emperor and the gravity of Antiquity."

Ted

The Woodlands, TX

Tour: 05/24/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The overall tour experience was outstanding. This was our 2nd Rick Steves' Tour (Ireland was 1st). The Adriatic tour featured wonderful, beautiful locations - very special places in our world. The tour group (28 people) were very compatible and lots of fun to share this experience. The food and drink was awesome. The hotels, for the most part, were very nice and what we expect from a Rick Steves'tour. The bus transportation and driver were top notch. And, our main guide & assistant were great

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several "wow" moments: Lake Bled; Pula's amphitheater; Rovinj; Split; Hvar; Korcula; Mostar; Stolac (our guide's home town)and the reception by the town's people; Dubrovnik. But the best "wow" moment was clearly Plitvice Lakes National Park: not sure I have ever seen a more beautiful, serene place on earth."

Wayne

Windham, NH

Tour: 05/24/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful adventure! Croatia was much loverly than expected. The infrastructure of the country is remarkable. Our tour group's compatability was excellant and made up of such nice people that were respectful of each other and demonstrated enthusiam of making new friends. Our guides, Sanel and Pal, are a great team and such an asset to the Rick Steves' organization! This was my first tourand I must say I had doubts about having to "follow the umbrella" BUT that certainly not the way RS does it!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was impressed by the friendliness of the people, the cleanliness of the country, and the overall infrastructure throughout. There were so many "wow" places...starting with Ljubjana, then Motovun and Pula, but the standout was Korcula. Of course, Plitvice was spectacular also but we didn't spend enough time there and it was crowded, even in late May/early June."

Nancy

Chelmsford, MA

Tour: 05/24/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First tour experience. Was not sure about the size but found it to be very manageable. Although would not want any more people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Nothing in particular...the tour was more than I had expected."

Gerald

Menlo Park, CA

Tour: 05/24/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fast paced, comprehensive. Got more than I was expecting. Some hotels not so great. Nice surprises and extras provided by the guide at various times.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Park was amazing. Sorry we had to walk so fast to get through by the time to leave. I'm not a slow walker but I paused often to take pictures and that meant I was literally running at times to keep up."

Gary

Walnut Creek, CA

Tour: 05/24/15

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves tour. I was a little apprehensive about being on a "tour," but it was a great experience. Almost the entire tour itinerary consisted of places I had never even heard of. Without the tour it is likely I would never have visited some beautiful and thought provoking places.
I would totally go on another Rick Steves and will likely do so.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a lot of "wow" moments, including...well, every destination was interesting, a new experience for me, and very memorable.
Lubjiana (excuse my spelling) came as a complete surprise, such a beautiful, tourable and friendly city. A great place to start the tour.
Every stop on the itinerary was very well chosen, I loved the hiking and walks.
My favorite moment was the first sight of Kor?ula, so lovely and interesting in the morning light. -"

Patricia

Burlington, KY

Tour: 05/24/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a challenge for a 71 year old lady, but I had prepared for it and was ready. We had two of the best tour guides ever. Our driver was so patient, helpful, and courteous to all. The local guides were well informed and we learned first hand about the news stories of this region. I was surprised that our food was so tasty and well prepared. The views were awesome, and we met some very nice people who were locals as well as tour members.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When Sanel helped my husband and I celebrate our 48th wedding anniversary on the island, Korcula. It was so wonderful that I could not tell it all in 500 words or less."

Roy

Burlington, KY

Tour: 05/24/15

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Fun and informative!! Beautiful Adriatic views and important sites explored.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed Ljubljana - would be a great place to live. Good food, market, and parks."

Kay

Ojai, CA

Tour: 05/24/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

An excellent, eye-opening tour that was a good mix of education and tourism in a location I knew nothing about. Breath-taking scenery, complex history, interesting cultures. I loved the "Yugoslavian lasagna" of history - layer upon layer of outside influences that shaped the current countries. Great bus and good driver through some difficult terrain. It was so much richer seeing this area with a good tour and guide than trying to navigate it on our own!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"On this tour the "Wow" wasn't a moment, but a gradual overwhelming realization of the complexity of the political, religious, and historical forces that led to the bloodbath in the 90's, and that the area is still dealing with the aftermath. No easy answers, but I'm glad that I know a little more now than I did when I skipped all the newspaper articles on the war 20 years ago because I didn't know the cast of characters, the issues, or even where Bosnia was."

Walt

Edmonds, WA

Tour: 05/24/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Both of the guides we had, Sanel&Pal where great. They were very helpful fulfilling any needs that came up. The food and accommodations where good and the pace was just great. Sanel's knowledge of the area and its history was wonderful and put a human touch to the past troubles that occurred. His work in his hometown and the politics involved was very interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The time we spent in the Plitvice Lakes National Park and the drive over the Julian Alps Was the high point for me. The scenery was great and the fifty hair pin turns in the Alps was a kick."

Jane

Point Roberts, WA

Tour: 05/24/15

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good variety. We saw & did a lot in the 2 weeks.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not a moment - but just the overall experience of seeing & learning about the aftermath of the break-up of Yugoslavia and how it affected the countries differently & how it affected the people living through it. From our guide & the local guides, we got background and information that we could not get travelling on our own."

Ernest

San Jose, CA

Tour: 05/24/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another outstanding tour. Great locations, great food, lots of history and information. As an extra bonus, I think I was getting fairly decent at correctly pronouncing people and place names by the end of the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In my case, it's a toss-up between Plitvice Lakes and old town Dubrovnik. Sadly, both have become very heavily touristed, so getting some quiet time is difficult. But they are both so stunning that you can tune out most of that."

James

Latrobe, PA

Tour: 05/19/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

For an advanced degree study tour, this was amazing. Oh, we received no credit? Seriously, while the "Balcans have more history than they can stand," the quality of the historical perspective that this tour brought to us was priceless. Our tour guide was the perfect professor for this course - knowledgeable, patient, and passionate. Whatever deficiencies there may have been for some of the hotels and group meals, those were overcome by Amir's professionalism.

Melody

Grand Terrace, CA

Tour: 05/19/15

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A small group of 18 persons. It would be hard to imagine a more friendly, inclusive, or pleasant group of people to spend two weeks with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Driving back to Motovun after dark, the hilltop town ahead was shrouded in an eerie mist. The lights from the town shone through the mist, creating this strange sight that looked very much like a UFO hovering in the night sky. Thankfully, our driver could safely stop the bus for a few minutes so that we could marvel over, and soak in this beautiful sight. Amazingly, with clever, modern cameras, we were even able to get some good photos of this remarkable, serendipitous phenomenon."

Clara

Oakland, CA

Tour: 05/19/15

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This tour covered all that we wanted to see and more. I like the historical perspective that was the tour narrative. Amir was wonderful in trying to tie all the pieces together, although I still don't have it all straight. The complexity of the dynamics in the region is mind boggling. My heart and mind were both changed by the people and stories. And the sights were beautiful and interesting as well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to choose just one. The Plitvice park was spectacular; I am biased toward nature over cities. Even though I'd seen some pictures, in person it was so much more impactful."

Linda

Houston, TX

Tour: 05/19/15

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Great guide. Good bus driver. Variable hotels and meals. Very good itinerary exept for the drive from Mostar to Dubrovnik. We had too many stops. I would have preferred more time in Dubrvnik. We didn't get there until almost 7pm. I would have liked to get in a couple of hours earlier.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We didn't do the walk at the lakes because I sprained my ankle. Otherwise that may have been a wow moment. I think the views of the coastline were amazing. Also when we were driving back to Motovun after our dinner we had a spectacular view of the town as some fog started to come in. Another wow moment was first seeing the town of Korcula. We've been to Dubrovnik before otherwise first seeing the city would have been a wow moment."

Rebecca

Latrobe, PA

Tour: 05/19/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our overall tour experience was exceptional! We never dreamed of learning so much about the former Yugoslavia, meeting and traveling with amazing people, seeing incredibly beautiful places...all in the comfort of a cushy tour bus with a professional driver and knowledgable tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's difficult to choose just one "wow" moment. I'd have to say that the waterfalls at the Plitvice National Park were incredibly beautiful and surprising and I remember my jaw dropping at the first site of the falls."

Judith

West Kelowna, BC

Tour: 05/17/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I found the tour covered more ground than I had anticipated but it was very well done. I would say our guide, Tina, was outstanding as was the driver of our bus,Ales. All the other guides were very good too and what I really appreciated was the rounded view we received on the 1991 war in the area. It was presented in a way that allowed us to see the situation from each group's perspective. The food was good with the most memorable for me being the incredible spread put on for us in Stolac.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The waterfalls in Plitvice Lakes National Park were spectacular"

Linda

Kirkland, WA

Tour: 05/17/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The whole experience was great, as usual. Tina is perhaps one of the greatest guides we have had. Her personal knowledge of the countries and humorous anectdotes involving friends and family add a unique dimension to the tour. We can not say enough about Ales's driving. He took us through those hairpin turns ( all 50) in the Julian Alps safely and easily like to professional he is. As usual we enjoy the small tours and the in depth knowledge given by the guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice National Park.. We have had the WOW moments of the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Niagara Falls and we add this national park to the list of WOW'S. We were fortunate to be there at a time when there was some flooding so the falls were about at their best. Being able to walk on the boardwalks near, below and under added to the WOW."

David

Bothell, WA

Tour: 05/17/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"See the water falls in Pletvice Nantional Park."

Sandy

Pacific Palisades, CA

Tour: 05/17/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I became, at just short of 78 years, a certified mountain goat. I did not know I had it in me. I may have been the rear guard but I did not hold up the group.
Trip vastly exceeded my expectations in every category. It was our first RS tour. We had been TV watchers forever. We loved every moment
and if the right itenerary comes along we will go on a RS tour again.
We have been to Europe more than 30 times since the mid-70's. We learned how to travel with less stuff.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Julian Alps"

Michele

Woodland Hills, CA

Tour: 05/17/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip exceeded my expectations. I learned more about the various cultures, saw more beautiful sights and ate more good food. I liked the mixture of structured and free time. Tini Hiti was a wonderful leader.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitivice Lakes National Park was my 'Wow" moment."

Cathy

Los Angeles, CA

Tour: 05/17/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guides. Tina Hiti was an amazing person to spend 14 days with. The other people on the tour were interesting, friendly and cool. The countries we traveled to, Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, were fascinating, beautiful and intriguing.
Overall one of my favorite trips I have ever taken and I've been to around 35 countries at last count.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pula was great. Ston was an unexpected pleasures. Too many to say."

Carl

West Kelowna, BC

Tour: 05/17/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved our Adriatic Tour. Ljubljana as well as all of Slovenia seemed to hold one surprise after another.
The coastline of Croatia with its variety of beautiful cities and villages was special. Splt and Korcula were my favorites. Plitvice Lakes National Park was truly delightful - not to be missed.
The trip into Mostar, Bosnia was an exceptional experience with its deep historical significance during the Yugoslavian war.
Dubrovnik was really the jewel in the crown of our trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment on the tour was meeting our guide in Mostar who accompanied us on the bus to Stolac.
His description of what he and his family endured during the 1990's war
was heart wrenching. The unfortunate take away is the misunderstanding between the three factions in parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina continues today. Very sad."

Mark

Coralville, IA

Tour: 05/17/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved this tour. I found it to be entertaining, relaxing, invigorating, educational, and just overall amazing. The only suggestion I have for future tours would be if there was a way to travel to Bosnia before hitting the Croatian Islands - that way you aren't breaking up the more relaxing parts of the trip - Korcula and Dubrovink, but ending on both relaxing sites on a huge high point. But for geographic reasons I understand why the tour is built as it is. I can't recommend this tour enough!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were two: I am from the Heartland (Iowa) born and raised on the plains with no mountains in sight, and so seeing the Julian Alps and Lake Bled in all their natural glory was amazing. I was overwhelmed by the mountainous scenery. I am not used to such beautiful sights.
Second Wow moment: getting to swim in the Adriatic Sea off of Korcula alone without any crowds and seeing the amazing Croatian coastline as a backdrop. Awesome."

Michele

Bellingham, WA

Tour: 05/17/15

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I had a great time. I loved the beautiful scenery, Lake Bled, Julian Alps, Plitvice lakes. I also enjoyed learning about the different cultures and histories of the people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had a couple of "wow" moments. One was the tour guide in Mostar relating his lifestory and giving the back ground information about the war in Bosnia. The other was I celebrated my birthday in Mostar and Tina and my tour mates made it special."

Marilyn

San Diego, CA

Tour: 05/17/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first guided tour so I had nothing with which to compare, so I thought "what did I expect , and then what was more than I expected." So, the organization of time and quality of experiences was amazing. The number of activities and small side trips was both interesting and fun,I.e the honey tasting, salt flats and gelato stops.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The scenery was breathtaking through out the trip. However, upon reflecting on the trip I think the wow time was the education and experience of traveling with compatible people."

Michael

Bellingham, WA

Tour: 05/17/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a well-organized tour with lots of history, culture and beautiful scenery. Our tour guide and local guides were all very good or excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While the entire tour was a 'Wow', I was most taken by the local guide and tour in Stolac. Our local guide lived through the 1991-1995 war and told the story of Stolac and Mostar then as well as of Stolac today; how it has changed and how it has not changed. This experience helps me to put a more reasonable perspective on my life here as well as to point out that I have nothing to complain about."

Gwendolyn

Madison, WI

Tour: 05/17/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a blessing to be able to tour the beautiful Adriatic with a guide who loved every nook and cranny of the former Yugoslavia and shared that love with all of us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every single day there was at least one wow moment. Was it when I looked out over the minarets of Mostar? Climbing the scary steps of St. Euphemia's in Rovinj? The sun coming out just as we approached the waterfall in Plitvice? The island paradise of Korcula? Running in a road race in Ljubljana with thousands of college students up a cliff to a castle? Watching a new friend and tour member carry his wife up 99 steps to the top of the church steps in Lake Bled? And hundreds more!"

Will

Tampa, FL

Tour: 05/17/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

OUR 6TH RS TRIP AND, AS USUAL, A WINNER.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"HAD BEEN RAINING FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE WE GOT TO PLITVICE. TINA PROMISED US SUNSHINE FOR OUR HIKE, AND, SURE ENOUGH, THE MORNING WE SET OUT TO SEE THE WATERFALLS THE SUN CAME OUT. IT WAS A MAGICAL DAY OF RUSHING WATER SPARKLING IN THE SUNLIGHT.
BEING UP ON THE WALLS OF DUBROVNIK AT SUNSET WAS A CLOSE SECOND."

Suzanne

Tampa, FL

Tour: 05/17/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour has something for everyone. A mix of stunning natural beauty...mountains, waterfalls and the Adriatic..mixed with charming medieval stone villages along the coast and in the interior. The history is thought-provoking from ancient Roman and earlier times through present day. There were active days, Plitvice and Lake Bled, and quiet days, in Bosnia. Every day brought a new experience or insight. Tina was a terrific guide. Our group was friendly and fun mix of happy travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Passing through Dubrovnik's city walls at dusk, Diocletian's Palace with Damir, the morning sun on the countryside from the top of Motovun, the waterfalls at Plitvice, picture-perfect Lake Bled, young and energetic Ljubljana, the arena in Pula with Mariam, a lazy day in Korcula ending with a boat cruise...can't stop at just one "wow" moment."

Rebecca

Portland, OR

Tour: 05/17/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I think of my 8 Rick Steves tours, this one was my favorite because so much of it was a surprise. I went to Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia with no set picture in my mind, and everything I encountered dazzled me. You can see pictures of Plitvice Lake National Park, but until you experience waterfall after waterfall you just can't understand the depth of the beauty. You can read about Lake Bled, but being rowed out to the island in a pletna boat an hiking up to the church is a memory!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is always a tough one. I like how Tina personalized the trip, and seeing her son waiting in the schoolyard to wave to his mom's bus was my wow moment."

James

Kirkland, WA

Tour: 05/17/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a great tour and learning experience. This was my sixth Rick Steves' Tour. Our tour guide Tina was exceptional. This is her home area and she is so knowledgeable and gives a very personable perspective. I have always had great guides but I place her right at the top. Beautiful sites, interesting and sometimes depressing history for what these people have gone through. Our group got together really well and we had a fun time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Really hard to select just one "WOW" moment. Plitvice was one of my favorites as well as Dubrovnik."

Carol

Chillicothe, OH

Tour: 05/12/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was far superior to the Eastern Europe tour due to the tour guide Anja. She was easy going and relaxed. Anja shared many of her personal experiences during the war. Additional days as an option in Dubrovnik would give extra time there and a chance to go to Montenegro. Many of the people on the tour stayed extra days. The individual speaker units are terrific in that you can Hera the local guides even if there are other groups near by.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The local tour guide in Bosnia telling his personal experiences during the war until now. The National Park for its beauty and Dubrovnik for its beauty."

Carol

Edmonds, WA

Tour: 05/12/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thought this was a great trip with a lot of diversity in scenery, cultures and historical perspectives. Things were managed very smoothly will a few extra treats thrown in. Our driver was able to maneuver into some incredible places and handled the winding roads very well. As someone prone to windy-road issues, I appreciated his care and expertise. I liked the variety of accommodations, and towns we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is really, really hard to determine only the best moment. I think I would say Plitvice Park[INVALID][INVALID]BUT can I also say our day with Edo from Mostar to Stolac is a tie?"

Sara

Portland, OR

Tour: 05/12/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

island hopping and European cafe culture interspersed with guided tours and history lessons
good variety of smaller and larger towns
beautiful natural wonders - the Adriatic Sea, Plitvice Lakes
beautiful manmade wonders - castles, Dubrovnik city walls
great food - prosciutto, black truffles, grilled calamari, black risotto, shrimp buzara
great people - amazing guides, great group of well traveled, adventurous people who were eager to learn from others and had many interesting stories to tell

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dubrovnik's Old Town City walls against the backdrop of the Adriatic Sea is quite a sight to behold."

Steve

Lakewood, WA

Tour: 05/12/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had an outstanding time. My grandparents came from Croatia and Anja made the tour very personal for me. But in the end everyone on the tour felt the same way. She is a great tour guide and I would not hesitate to sign up with any one of her tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Anja helped me orchestrate a side trip to the home where my grandfather grew up outside Split. That was my personal wow moment but I was in fact wowed by the whole trip from the time we landed in Ljubljana until we departed Dubrovnik."

David

Northglenn, CO

Tour: 05/12/15

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good, except came away utterly exhausted. A little too much jammed in to the time frame and this coming from a very fit and active traveler.
Thanks very much though for including Bosnia. That was a trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Split by far. Liked to have had at least one more day there.
And the creepiness of the Serbs tracking our group in Trebinje and whoever was tracking us in Stolac."

Diana

Spokane, WA

Tour: 05/10/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip was informative and active. We did enjoy the day off in Korcula. The local guides were superb. Marijan was so very kind and made every effort to be sure that we were having a good and safe trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Bled, the Julian Alps and Kobarid were highlights of the trip for me. The Lisjak winery lunch and tour was special."

Becky

Golden, CO

Tour: 05/10/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I don't think anyone could have imparted more information or immersed us in the culture of Slovenia and Croatia better than Marijan and Sanel. Every minute was packed with information. We took lots of pictures and learned so much about the area!

Debra

Calgary, AB

Tour: 05/10/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The beauty of the Adriatic, the fascinating Roman, Venetian and Ottoman history and the complex modern history of this area meant that the days were full and the time went by much too quickly. Croatia was a revelation - all of the beauty, history, wine and food of Italy without the high prices, crowds and attitude. We were so impressed by the kindness and helpfulness of local people - they were as warm as their sea and weather.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So difficult to chose... Sanel taking us to his home town and relating his family's experience when he was a child during the conflict of the early nineties was very affecting. His work and philosophy and it's manifestation as a non-profit was inspirational and the visit to the non-profit qualifies it as a "wow". If I didn't have the good fortune to have Sanel as a guide, Dubrovnik is all wow all the time!"

Stephanie

Spokane, WA

Tour: 05/10/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First Rick Steves tour and only my 2nd tour in my lifetime. Exceeded my expectations. Guides were excellent: knowledgable, respectful, super positive, giving of their time beyond the tour day as needed. The locations we visited were well thought out and a mixture of small towns, landscapes and the larger towns. The hotels were just OK, which is what I expected. Comparing vs US hotels is not valid, which I learned on prior trips. All hotels were VERY welcoming, clean, good service at breakfast.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Favorite WOW moment was either walking the wall in Dubrovnik and looking down on all the rooftops and the sea.....and Plitvice Park. The waterfalls and accessibility to the water was amazing. Korcula was also a WOW."

Debra

Winterville, GA

Tour: 05/10/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was our first Rick Steves tour and we were a little apprehensive of what to expect as my husband and I and not usually "tour" people.
What we found was an extremely well thought out experience that was seamless, informative, relaxing yet physically challenging and something that we would do again in the future!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plivitce National Park"

Carol

Port Angeles, WA

Tour: 05/10/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This "Best of the Adriatic in 14 Days" tour was the best I have ever been on(I have 4 others to compare with). Rick Steves tour was very educational, well thought out and loads of fun. The tour was small enough(24 people) so the two tour guides could keep everything running smoothly. Both the tour guide and his apprentice were very knowledgeable about the countries we visited: the history, the geology,the politics and customs . How fortunate we were to have Marijan and Sanel as our guides!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many WOW moments it is hard to pick one. The Plitvice Lakes National Park was breath-taking: quite a wonderment; the Dalmatian Island of Korcula for fun and free time; and Ljubljana, the heart of Slovenia, where I felt I could live the rest of my life if it became necessary to move from the USA."

Carol

Port Angeles, WA

Tour: 05/10/15

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The guides were outstanding! Because they live in the countries we visited I trusted them.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning about the real history of the area.
The trip through the Vrsic pass and Julian Alps to the Soca valley."

Kathleen

Vancouver, BC

Tour: 05/10/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I didn't think I would ever go on an organized tour because I've always been an independent traveller in the past, but the Rick Steeves experience (with our marvellous, marvellous guides and touring companions) was truly exceptional. I loved the balance of organized versus free time, and our guides and the local guides were truly exceptional in their knowledge, intelligence and sense of humour. I loved the fact that the trip--while incredibly fun--was equally educational and moving.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have so many "wow" moments that they cannot be limited to just one1 When I first saw Ljubljana, I was stunned by its beauty. I loved Plitvice Lakes National Park. I was amazed by the loveliness of Korcula. My experience in Bosnia[INVALID]where the scars of war are still visible everywhere[INVALID]was very moving. Our wonderful guide, Senal, made our time in his home country absolutely unforgettable."

Jeffrey

Golden, CO

Tour: 05/10/15

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall, the tour was as advertised. My only complaints were the volume of the PA in the bus and the amount of time discussing the history of the areas. I had hoped to read and have some quiet time. While this information was fascinating, unlike my wife I was not interested in that level of detail. My primary suggestion is to use the whisper system in the bus other than for announcements. In this way, tour participants can tune in or tune out to fit their interests and needs.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Bled"

Louise

Asheville, NC

Tour: 05/03/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our first Rick Steves tour. Very fine experience, both fun and educational and well thought out itinerary plus tour guides par excellence. We are very pleased we "joined up".

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is hard to think of one wow moment.. there were numerous experiences that will stay with us and have enriched our understanding of life in that part of the world. I think it is a plus to have not just one moment that is a "wow", but multiple multiple moments that come to mind."

Robert

Richmond, BC

Tour: 05/03/15

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

a very pleasant trip, seeing a lot of Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia in a stress-free way.
The group was very amiable and fun to travel with. the right amount of exercise, and enough free time to absorb it all.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The hill-top town of Montovun was lovely, and the first sighting of Dubrovnik was special"

Sharon

Richmond, BC

Tour: 05/03/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really enjoyed the tour and got the most out of it. Also it was hassel free, and everything went very smoothly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The spectacular scenery of the medieval times."

Judy

Bend, OR

Tour: 05/03/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our fellow travelers were considerate and congenial.
I liked the variety and balance of experiences---archetecture, culture, war history, history in general, wine, recreation, etc
All the logistics worked out perfectly.
It rates right up there with the best trip ever.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Plitvice Lakes National Park was the most beautiful natural area I have ever seen."

Debra

Auburn, CA

Tour: 05/03/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful area to visit. Slovenia was like Switzerland, Italy and Austria rolled up in one. Loved the beauty of Croatia and learning about Bosnia from our local guides. Glad to have Sanel on the first part of the trip to learn about Bosnia. Our great guide, Saso was outstanding. Thought about every need and was fun to be with. He clearly puts everything into his guiding. Our fellow travelers were so interesting and lovely to spend time with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved Plitvice and Dubrovnhik. The local guide in Dubrovnik was outstanding. He brought the medieval city to life for me."

Diane

Littleton, CO

Tour: 05/03/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Visited beautiful locations. Knowledgeable local tour guides. Especially informative to have the 2 locals who had lived through the war in Bosnia. We saw sites we would never have found on our own-such as the winery and the restaurant where the cook prepared all the meals over an open fire.
Having half the lunch and dinners planned as a group while the other half of the afternoons and evenings were on our own to do what our personal preferences were.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice National Park was over the top amazing. We could have walked it twice."

Patricia

Long Beach, CA

Tour: 05/03/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Such a wonderful learning experience. Loved having Sanel along to give his perspective on his country. I really felt that Saso cared about us and he gave everything he had to insure that we had a wonderful trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hearing the Call to Prayer in Mostar, Bosnia. I was really apprehensive about traveling there, but all of my preconceived ideas and opinions were dashed. I met lovely people in that lovely city"

Sandra

Seattle, WA

Tour: 05/03/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

very impressed with Saso. my best guide yet, knowledgable,great personality,always considers the group and individual needs. the tour was great but would have preferred less one noc stays ,delete some of the smaller town visits. Stay longer at some of the outstanding places like bled, split, dubrovnik, plitvik lakes..

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvik lakes.Enjoyed the nature aspect which I had not experienced on a RS tour."

Patricia

San Francisco, CA

Tour: 05/03/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a well-organized, highly educational, exceptionally fun tour. Our guide, Saso, was outstanding, as were most of the local guides. The group was cohesive and were good travel buddies. This was a most educational experience. It had just the right balance of nicely sized towns and lots of beautiful natural scenery. I would definitely recommend this one! The pace was just right.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were two, Dubrovnik at night and Plitvice. Dubrovnik is a beautiful city and I am very glad that Saso encouraged us to go with him the evening we arrived. I would have been very disappointed to miss it; it was quite magical with the lighting and very peaceful without the crowds. Plitvice was simply awe-inspiring. I was glad for so much free time to enjoy it own our own, and for the very relaxed group pace to start the hike."

Marjorie

Salem, OR

Tour: 05/03/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I'd been on two Rick Steves tours before, so I wasn't surprised to find this one delightful. It had a great mix of locations, enough two-night stays to allow hand laundry to dry (!), beautiful scenery, great guides and good food. Add to all that war and friendly fellow tour members, and you can see why I rated it outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is hard as there were many "wow" moments. Perhaps seeing Motovun on its height as we drove toward it and realizing that we were actually going to be staying there."

Sandra

Edmonton, AB

Tour: 05/03/15

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

the tour guide Saso and his apprentice Sanel made this the most memorable trip I have ever had. They made everything so easy for us. The buddy system worked great and so did the whisper system. I will do another Rick Steves tour in the future (possibly Turkey). And, maybe, even see everyone in Edmonds.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would have to say Plitice Lakes."

Diane

Le Roy, NY

Tour: 09/28/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent group of people who got along very well and were very friendly with everyone

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dubrovnik was very impressive"

Russell

Canton, MI

Tour: 09/28/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was our 9th and met our expectations as an excellent mix of guided experiences and free time to explore on our own. Our legs and cardio systems certainly got a workout at some of the villages!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably Plitvice National park. At every turn there was another grandiose display of waterfalls!"

Catherine

Columbus, OH

Tour: 09/28/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 10th RS tour. It lived up to all my expectations and then some. Wonderful sites, beautiful scenery, great plentiful food (including very good gelato), excellent wine, very talented guides (both local and Saso), and a very cheerful and energetic group of fellow travelers!! What more could you ask for.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's always very hard for me to come up with one "favorite" moments. This time is no exception. I have 3 special moments: 1) sharing a toast at the top of the Julian Alps at sunset; 2) our "vacation from our vacation" on Korcula - a rainy morning turned into sunshine and we had the day to explore this charming walled city without hordes of "cruisers;" 3) finally, Mary, a fellow tour-mate, and I climbed the wall of Dubrovnik at 8 am in the cool and quiet of the morning."

Kathryn

Mississauga, ON

Tour: 09/28/14

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our experience on the Adriatic Tour was a very positive one. Saso was excellent as our tour guide and managed to keep track of us all when we were in a group situation. Our travel mates were wonderful and I know we will try hard to keep in touch with many of them. My main focus was to see some of Croatia and this tour definitely exceeded my expectations. I absolutely loved what I saw of Slovenia and Bosnia was definitely and eye opener. Dubrovnik was spectacular as expected.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think Ljubljana surprised me most as a beautiful city. My other favourites were Motovun and Korcula."

Pamela

Salem, OR

Tour: 09/28/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This evaluation also applies to my husband Tim Ewing.
The group was wonderful - all engaging and interesting people. We were lucky.
The most significant reason for taking the tour was the history - especially since I am 1/2 Montenegran. I learned a lot and many questions were answered. Still can't grasp how much hatred there is.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The scenic areas - the national park, Julian Alps, and picturesque Dalmatian Coast."

Mary

Fort Worth, TX

Tour: 09/28/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had heard about this tour from other tour members on the Villages and Vineyards in Eastern France trip...and it did not disappoint. Each stop was more beautiful than the previous one. The group was such a wonderful collection of friendly and interested travelers. We really bonded well and enjoyed each others company.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dubrovnik in the evening was pure magic. The soft lighting illuminating the old walls and shiny limestone pavers was simply beautiful. This was the only place on then whole trip that I had been to before....but that first time was with a cruise trip and 8,000 other travelers all crammed into the walled city, which was my worst travel nightmare ever. Seeing Dubrovnik in the evening with hardly any others around made me fall in love with this "Pearl of the Adriatic"."

JoAnne

Everett, WA

Tour: 09/28/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour exceeded my expectations in every way. I knew almost nothing about this area before the trip and I now have a much better understanding of these countries and the people who live there. I would welcome the opportunity to visit this area again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice National Park"

Ralph

Washington, DC

Tour: 09/28/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic. This was our third Rick Steves tour and won't be our last. As with the previous tours, the outstanding quality of the Rick Steves guide and of most of the local guides virtually guaranteed a successful tour. Also as in earlier tours, the experiences were made all the more interesting and fun by being able to share them with other Rick Steves tourist. And, of course, the places we went in ex-Yugoslavia were fascinating.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For natural beauty, it would be hard to beat Plitivice National Park, but Lake Bled and the Julian Alps come close. For man-made interest, Ljubljana and Dubrovnik top my list, but Split's Old Town was another "wow.""

Victoria

Sacramentoo, CA

Tour: 09/28/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Other than reading the Slovenia and Croatia guide book, I knew little about the Dalmation Coast. After the tour, I feel I have an enhanced understanding of the history of the former Yugoslavia and the conflict that took place there. More importantly, I developed a great respect for the citizens of these countries and their unyielding hope for a better future for themselves and their future generations. I also developed an affinity for laganini in my own life!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice National Park, the Julian Alps and touring Bosnia."

Elizabeth

Seattle, WA

Tour: 09/28/14

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was very good to outstanding for me. This is my first time with RS tour and it worked better than I expected. My fellow travelers were pleasant and fun to get know. Saso was most outstanding. I loved the 20th century history parts about Kobarid, Mostar, Stolac and Dubrovnik. The ancient history was good also in Pula, Spilt and Dubrovnik. The time with the group and the time on our own seemed balanced. Loved Plitvice NP!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Bosnia. Both with Alma in Mostar and Sanel in Stolac. Sharing their stories put the personal in the political / historical context for me. Hard to see the bombed out buildings and hear about the political difficulties that hamper recovery. So sad to see how the Homeland War affected their lives both in the past and now in the present. For me, the political history and the telling of it by local guides was my "wow" experience. Wished we went on to Sarajevo."

Robert

Le Roy, NY

Tour: 09/28/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a wonderful tour. I have been to Europe before with my wife, but never along the Adriatic. The people we met along the way were all very friendly and welcoming. The places we stopped at to visit were all extremely interesting. I'm so glad that we picked this tour to go on!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is very difficult for me to pick out a "wow" moment because all the places we visited were so wonderful in their own ways. However, I would have to say that Dubrovnik was my favorite place on the tour, followed by Split and Mostar."

Barbara

Canton, MI

Tour: 09/28/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Like other RS tours we have taken this one was excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice was amazing and there was a wow around every turn of the path. Another wow was the full moon reflected in the sea in Korcula."

Earlene

Kalamazoo, MI

Tour: 09/23/14

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Exceeded in some areas. Disappointed in others.
Too much time in the coast where it was always crowded, waiters rude and prices high. Would have loved additional time in the National parks and small towns. What's another Roman ruin?
More emphasis on architecture and music.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Plitvice Park. The walk was spectacular.
Mostar bridge.
Not any particular single moment, but the eye-opening history lessons that Amir provided through the trip."

Edward

Chelmsford, MA

Tour: 09/23/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We went to the Adriatic to experience some of Europe as it was before globalization put Burger Kings and McDonalds everywhere. We loved every bit of it. Slovenia in particular could have held us for weeks.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Plitvice Lakes and waterfalls"

Randolph

Burbank, CA

Tour: 09/23/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour but not enough time in bled and other places. Food quality left a lot to be disired. People were friendly and spoke English enough. Guide was very knowledgable about the history of the overall area.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Feeding the birds out of my hand while having one of the best pizzas ever had while in Ljubljana."

Jeffrey

San Mateo, CA

Tour: 09/23/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I learned a lot. I had a great time meeting others on the tour... really had a nice time!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Bosnian town and lunch! Great history and food!"

Cary

San Diego, CA

Tour: 09/23/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A well organized tour that gave us an incredible depth of experience in the history, culture, food, wine and natural beauty of an amazing region of Europe that few Americans have yet to experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This tour had more wow moments than any tour I've taken. A few of my top:
That first sight of the Stradun at night as you walk through the Pile gate into old town Dubrovnik.
The symbolism of the rebuilt old bridge in Mostar and reliving the day I saw it destroyed on CNN.
Gazing across the water as the morning sun illuminated old town Korcula.
Driving the switchbacks of the vrsic pass mesmerized by the sheer beauty of the Julian Alps."

Melodie

Vancouver, BC

Tour: 09/23/14

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was another excellent tour. As noted below every aspect was good. Our major concern was, unlike on other tours, we did not have whisper system so that when guide were talking and there was ambient noise we had to try to crunch in and we, and others, missed some of the dialogue. Some of us older folks found standing for periods difficult but without whisper we had to stay as near as possible...

Jacqueline

Keene, NH

Tour: 09/23/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour made even better by our superb guide, Amir. This tour really covered well Slovenia, Croatia, and a small part of Bosnia. Loved the varied tours including stopping off at a winery in Slovenia, seeing Mostar and the war impact on this city, touring Stolac with a native, and having several lunches in small towns including Stolac that were off the tourist route. Also liked all the free time to explore on own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring old Split and Stolac."

Ellen

Chapel Hill, NC

Tour: 09/23/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first RS tour and we were very impressed. It struck a good balance between group activities and free time. Excellent guides shared informed yet personal experiences, not just going through the motions. Generous seating on the bus. Efficient hotel check-ins. Very well organized!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes was amazing! We were fortunate to have beautiful weather there and the water levels were high.
An unexpected surprise was walking through Stolac with excellent guide Sanel. This was one of the highlights for us, perhaps because it wasn't touristy, but also because Sanel's commentary was so moving. The visit culminated with a great lunch spread."

Hope

San Mateo, CA

Tour: 09/23/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

the tour was beyond my expectations. history, culture and cuisine.. every day was exciting day. impressed with the details of the tour plan,he even organized the laundry place and time for us!. our tour guide Amir was a good shephard. Each places we visited were like open musem. came home with lots good memories...

Favorite "WOW" moment

"my wow monent was the Plitvice national park, water falls, lakes .. walking around and get my face all wet by spray of water falls it was a unreal experience to me..."

Geri

Plano, TX

Tour: 09/21/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was delighted to have Tina, a native Slovenian as our tour guide. Within minutes, and with her great sense of humor, she connected with us all and we knew we were going to have a great experience.
The smoothness and ease that Tina managed each destination, connecting us with our local tour guides, plus adding little surprises along the way made us all feel comfortable and in good hands.
Our last meal together was a great celebration and the after dinner closing party was a big hit.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the secluded, romantic historic town of Motavan.
It was a great escape from all the congested, compact towns, hustle & bustle and lots of people. It was magical to get up early enough to walk around the wall and get to see a dense low cloud cover ~ below us hovering over the land!
The massages and swimming pool were revitalizing. What a treat!"

Frank

Detroit, MI

Tour: 09/21/14

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had an excellent group which made everything work out better. Ljubljana was a wonderful town. I'd suggest that anyone taking this tour get there several days early as we did to really enjoy the place. Going to Bosnia was a real eye opener about the war in the 90's. I enjoyed the WWI museum.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Bled"

Wanda

Sequim, WA

Tour: 09/21/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Just where can a person begin...there is so much to tell...First of all my thanks to Rick Steves' and his work team....You guys/gals are all super !!!!
This will NOT be my last Rick Steves' tour !!!! Everyone/thing was out standing from Tina to our awesome and oh so very clever bus driver Aleces.....You guys could NOT have put two more outstanding team together....Your choices of cities, towns, villages and country views were so revating with all of its history and beauty....

Favorite "WOW" moment

"EVERYTHING...was a "WOW".... Coming from a small community of Sequim, Washington the entire trip was a WOW moment....I loved the Russian Memorial, Julian Alps, all castles, most of the foods....and absolutely loved our guide TINA....what knowledge of everything....including what to do with me when i tore my meniscus....She turned out be of such help.
Thank you Rick for doing such great foot work for us all to follow...
Another wow moment was Mostar....what an eye opener..."

Carol

Lawrence, KS

Tour: 09/21/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Thanks to Tina and her fellow guides at key locations, this tour exceeded my expectations. It was a wonderfully organized experience in these exceptionally beautiful former Yugoslavian countries with their long fascinating and often tragic histories. To see them living in peace is historic and hopefully will be long lasting. I greatly appreciated the arranged, pre-paid taxi to the airport.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moments were many: The beauty of Lake Bled and the Julian Alps; Lake Plitvice was fantastic, but a surprising "wow" was the arranged meals [INVALID] the food and wine were delicious and the ambiance of the locations was lovely. I'm still savoring all my memories from the 14 days and wishing I could do it all over again."

Linda

Loveland, OH

Tour: 09/21/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had some trepidation about embarking on the "tour" experience, having always planned our trips myself. No worries anymore-would not hesitate to use Rick Steves again. He has a way of attracting energetic, open-minded and kind-hearted folks. Would have liked a little more down time (e.g., skip one of the Istrian Pennisula towns).
The itinerary was a perfect combination of history, adventure, relaxation, island hopping, and eye-popping scenery that climaxed at Plitvice.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have 5:
Sitting in Tito's chair at his Lake Bled summer house (this from a Roman Catholic raised during the Cold World)-validation of Rick's belief that all travel is a political act through enlightenment.
Chillin' in Diocletian's 2000 year old palace with vino, new friends and smooth music-that brought out the goose bumps and almost made me forget the namesake's brutality
Doing summesaults in the Adriatic Sea
enjoying vino seaside with my husband in Opatija
Klapa"

Terry

Sequim, WA

Tour: 09/21/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This was my first European visit and this tour did not disappoint. I have always dreamed of sitting in the quintessential European outdoor cafe with a glass of wine surrounded by stone buildings hundreds of years old. It happened."

Constance

Detroit, MI

Tour: 09/21/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We travel a lot in Europe using the Rick Steve books. This is our 4th tour. We started with Turkey because we didn't feel secure going around by ourselves. Next, small town Italy, last year Portugal. This tour was very nice. It was a little like Italy, a little like Greece, a little like Turkey, a little like Germany. The history and Plitvice was different from anywhere. I really enjoyed all of it. Tina was great, the people on the tour were especially friendly. Good experience!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mostar left me emotional and sad for the stories about the 1991-95 war in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Makes me grateful for the life I live and glad for the opportunity to experience a taste of their troubles.
Ljubljana was a really fun town. There was something going all the time. We had 4 extra days before the tour and had a great time."

Janice

Bellevue, WA

Tour: 09/21/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everyday was well planned! There must have been a lot of thought on where to go/what to see, especially on the long bus rides. I enjoyed every place we went to. Tina was wonderful, I can't say enough about what a great guide she is. Her stories made the places we visited even more meaningful. Of all the tours I've taken (Rick Steves and others), she is the best because she anticipates everything, and her love of her country and the former Yugoslavia countries come through.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice, the water flowing everywhere. Wish we could have stayed longer, but then what would I give up in its place?"

Gretchen

Pleasanton, CA

Tour: 09/21/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was an exceptional travel experience in its fulfillment of my expectations. I felt as though everyday presented an opportunity to experience history and cultural discoveries. The amount of preparation for each destination prepared me for the lay of the land and helped focus the pursuits of my free time. The group dynamics enhanced my travel experience and Tina was an amazing leader.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The hike through Plitvice Nat'l Park was not something I would have chosen to do by myself in the rain, but it became an unforgettable accomplishment by hind site, as it was participated in by the whole group. The beauty of that place is unforgetable."

Russell

Springfield, IL

Tour: 09/21/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really enjoyed the pace, variety of experiences, and overall feeling of this tour. Several times I felt we were spending too much time on the bus traveling between stops, but in order to shorten any of that time we would have to eliminate something and I wouldn't want to change anything. Having Tina as a guide gave a local perspective that was insightful and fun, sobering and thoughtful. Seeing the beauty of the countryside and envisioning the 1991 war was quite a contrast.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No one wants to pick one moment. The incredible beauty of Lake Bled, Rovinj and Korcula balanced against the sobering WW I museum and remnants of war in Bosnia were all sights I will never forget. I think my favorite and possibly "Wow" moment came in Split. We were walking around the city at night and entered the Peristil(square) of the Diocletian Palace. The lighting, the columns, the arches and the thought Roman soldiers walked this same ground almost 2000 years ago was amazing."

Carol

Hilton Head Island, SC

Tour: 09/16/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My pre-tour hopes and expectations were met and surpassed. I learned so much about the Balkan countries we visited. I met and listened to people who live there. I travelled on roads most travelers can't find and was treated to surprise stops, just a little further off the road. My travel companions were delightful. We shared many of the same values and concerns. The beauty of the land and coast was indescribable. I was always well-fed, driven, directed and entertained.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The local guides were my "wow" moments. Their knowledge and presentations were outstanding and will be what I remember most from this tour. They were UNFORGETTABLE."

Dick

Aptos, CA

Tour: 09/16/14

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our first R.S. Tour after numerous independent trips, mostly to Europe.
Impressions:
1. Tour members were very compatible, with strong travel interests. No grumpies or constant complainers.
2. Bus driver (Janko) was very friendly, pleasant, and helpful. He kept his modern bus very clean.
3. Going to/Staying in smaller towns (Korcula, Porec, Montevun) was very good - gets us off the beaten track.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Overall scenery of the Adriatic Coastline."

Carleen

Denver, CO

Tour: 09/16/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every aspect of the trip exceeded my expectations: lots of educational[INVALID]but not at all boring[INVALID]content; an entertaining, well-organized, and extremely knowledgeable guide; a lively, engaged, and inclusive group of fellow travelers; varied, fun, and interesting group activities; fabulous sights, towns and countryside; comfortable, non-cookie-cutter hotels; knowledgeable and personable local guides; and a satisfying mix of group and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many, but I think the most "Wow!" was the walk with Ben, our tour leader, through Split after dark on the first of our two nights there. Our introduction to this marvelous city was magical: dramatically lit Roman walls, buildings, and courtyards built of golden limestone, free of the daytime cruise ship hordes. The private, behind-the-scenes feel was priceless, so much better than if we'd first encountered the city the next morning."

Bruce

Palo Alto, CA

Tour: 09/16/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As usual a great blend of our tour guide--Ben--with outstanding local guides that took us off the beaten paths. For us, it was the culmination of the Central European tour that we did in 2008. We also appreciate the not be continually herded and have time to pursue our own interests during the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Actually, there were four wows on this trip:
1. The WWI Soca Front as a vertical Flanders Field
2. A Medieval city build within Diocletian's Palace
3. The futility of war and nationalism in Mostar
4. Why Dubrovnik has been so permanent through the Ages"

Debby

Poway, CA

Tour: 09/16/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, this was a fabulous tour mainly for the rich history and cultural experience in a location I was unfamiliar with. Everything else exceeded expectations including the other interesting participants, beautiful scenery, towns, local tours, transportation, hotels, and meals.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I want to say the beautiful islands, mountains and many enchanting UNESCO World Heritage sites.
However, it must be the better understanding of the war in the Balkans, our time with the local guides in Bosnia, their experiences during the siege and the impact of war. WOW!
Also, the WWI museum, winery and learning that 4 generations were born Italian, Austrian, Yugoslavian and Slovenian.
These experiences truly change my worldview and perspectives."

Steve

Poway, CA

Tour: 09/16/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was great to see a new part of the world and experience the rich and complicated histroy of the area. Enjoyed the entire trip. It was well organized and interesting everyday.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Mostar and hearing what happened there from our local guide. Very powerful experience!!
I really enjoyed visiting the WW1 museum. I only wish we had more time at the sight."

Kennette

La Grange, IL

Tour: 09/16/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is a new set of countries for me and I was anxious to see the beauty and experience the friendliness I had heard about. I also wanted to better understand the conflict that occurred with the breakup of Yugoslavia. I was not disappointed. I learned so much and enjoyed every day. I will tell lots of people how well organized and thorough this tour is. Not a minute was wasted. I loved the variety of the itinerary and the depth of the information. The group was pleasant and the trip active.

Favorite "WOW" moment

""Wow" for me was our trip to Mostar, Bosnia. Putting a personal face on the fighting and seeing first hand the results was eye opening. So much damage still exists, and parks are now cemeteries. The stories are far from anything in my experience. I spoke with an artist who is such a good representative of her nation, and learned of her background and her plans. We shared laughs and stories, and I was not at all upset to be a bit late for dinner that evening."

Sherman

Hilton Head Island, SC

Tour: 09/16/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every phase of the tour went extremely well. Your communications arrived on time, flight and transfer were very smooth. Ben seemed to click instantly with our group. As a group it was more cohesive than the last tour I went to Bulgaria 2 years ago.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Waterfalls at Plitvice. And hearing personal information from our local guides in Bosnia"

Lorraine

Chapel Hill, NC

Tour: 09/16/14

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

To begin with, this was my first experience with a Rick Steves' tour and was generally pleased with the experience. Having toured with a number of other companies, it offered a different type of experience in its higher level of physical activity and attention to learning about the history of the various sites that were visited was a bit more than expected. Toning it down a bit would have made it more enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The "wow" moment was hiking the trails of the Plitvice Lakes National Park. It was truly an awesome experience!!"

John

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Mostar and learning about what the inhabitants experienced during the 1991-1995 war. Our walk in Plitvice Lakes National Park was extraordinary despite the heavy rain."

Diane

Decatur, IL

Tour: 09/14/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Darija was a terrific and knowledgeable guide with a fantastic sense of humor! I loved all of the different coastal towns that we visited along with the larger cities. Darija went above and beyond during our hike in the pouring rain in Plitvice National Park. There were only four of us that wanted to continue the hike to the second part of the park. She never hesitated and we were able to see some more amazing aspects of the park!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite Wow moment was seeing the beautiful Adriatic Water at both Hvar and Korcula!"

Robert

Decatur, IL

Tour: 09/14/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fun group with a nice cross section...Darija was wonderful! Her voice and speech was easy to understand. Mix and locations and travel was about right.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"National park and Korcula."

John

Tyler, TX

Tour: 09/14/14

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed the trip & esp the recent history of this region. Most impressed by our guide - she was excellent!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mostar."

Joseph

Oak Park, IL

Tour: 09/14/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, it was a great tour. The Adriatic countries we visited we very interesting and our Guide (Darija) was exceptional. The terrain was beautiful and the local population very complex. I am glad we visited Croat, Serb, and Bosnian cities in order to gain a balanced political view. Darija was very knowledgeable and personable and added a great deal to the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dobrovik was fantastic and is a place we would like to visit again!"

Ken

Vernon, BC

Tour: 09/14/14

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I felt the tour provided a good overview of a number of interesting and diverse places and cultures in that part of Europe, in an area that has had a somewhat turbulent and interesting history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favourite was probably the visit to Korcula. Not only was it an incredibly beautiful location, but I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the town. It was a perfect location to have the "free day", and I would have liked to spend at least another day there."

Chris

Tyler, TX

Tour: 09/14/14

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our initial tour experience was awkward starting with the first meal. Tour had a group of 6 who have traveled together several times over couple of years. We started to seat ourselves at one of two provided tables and were blocked by another member who was part of the group of 6. They were saving seats for their group which left my husband and I at the very end of the table at the end of the group of 6 who were not interested at that point in meeting new people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Korcula and Dubrovnik. I wish the tour was constructed such that we could have spent more time in Dubrovnik"

Kenneth

Beverly, MA

Tour: 09/14/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The best group in the seven RS tours we have taken. A very fun, caring, cooperative and friendly gang.
Tour guide Darija was excellent, had a great sense of humor and was hugely knowledgeable about the history, politics and people of the region.

Susan

Beverly, MA

Tour: 09/14/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really enjoyed the locations and scenery...just beautiful. The history was very interesting but, also disturbing to learn what real people and families suffered with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"With all so great it's hard to come up with one "wow"."

Haigh

Cobourg, ON

Tour: 09/09/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Both my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our tour. We found that each of the destinations presented an unique experience,the sum total of which was to give us a better understanding of the history/culture of that part of Europe. The pacing of the trip and the inclusion of free time were highly appreciated. The fact that all tips were taken care of (unlike the practice with some other tour companies)eliminated one further travel issue. The camaraderie within the tour group was priceless!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the first meal together with the group at the Castle in Ljubljana. The meal was excellent but the evening was so spontaneous and provided a wonderful introduction to the good times we were to share in the next fortnight. I'm sure Lake Bled, the Julian Alps and Plitvice would all have rated better as a "wow" factor, however our weather there was damp at best."

Karen

San Diego, CA

Tour: 09/09/14

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Experience was great due to well thought out itinerary, amazing guides, and gorgeous places we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Adriatic and nearby islands from the top of the bell tower of St. Euphemia in Rovinj"

Rick

Seattle, WA

Tour: 09/09/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was our first with Rick Steves and it was an amazing experience. The itinerary was full, but flexible, and the transportation, lodging and meals were great. Enough cannot be said about the quality of our guide, Saso. He was extremely well-versed in the history, culture and sights on this tour. Saso is also very articulate, helpful and, yes, even entertaining. At the end of our tour's farewell dnner, we suprised him with "Top 10 List of Our Favorite Saso-isms". Great value tour!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our time in Bosnia, especially in the small town of Stolac, touched many hearts in our group. The local guide in Stolac is dedicated to cross-cultural programs for Serbian and Bosniak children, inspite of much opposition and little funding. His goals, dedication and programs to foster continuing peace are truly admirable. Over the next few days, tour members wanted to donate to this cause. We surprised our most excellent guide, Saso, who forwarded our gift of support."

Jayne

Murphys, CA

Tour: 09/09/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first tour, ever. We normally use Rick's books to travel independently. However, being unfamiliar with the language and transportation systems, we decided this would be a good time for guided travel. And were we right! Everything went so smoothly that we were free to focus on the people, the history, the culture, the scenery, the food -- all the things we came to experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice! With drought in California, we were thrilled to see what record rainfalls can do. I also thought Kobarid was so interesting and our museum guide was outstanding. And Pula, and Rovinj, and Ljubljana, and Korcula -- they are all our favorite places!"

Lisa

Alta Loma, CA

Tour: 09/09/14

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our first ever tour. We have traveled extensively throughout the world on our own. I have used Rick Steve's guidebooks for some of my trips and have found his kind of travel matches our style. So for us, this was an experiment in joining a tour group. We were pleasantly surprised. We thoroughly enjoyed the areas visited and a good group of people to share it with. The highlight was our guide, Saso.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"What I thought would be my "wow" moment of the tour - Lake Bled and Plitvice Lakes was dampered because of the rainy weather. We got rain at both sites but still enjoyed the experience. However, we had an unexpected "wow" in Ston. Yes, we were rained on again but the visit with the guide there was very informative and eye opening. His efforts to bring a divided ethnic community together is very commendable & heartfelt. Felt like we were listening to the next Noble Peace Award
recipient."

Nili

New York, NY

Tour: 09/09/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My husband and I usually travel on our own, with a driver/guide if necessary. However, we felt that it was time to try a group tour. Although I was worried about 28 people tour, we signed up for the Adriatic in 14 days. We are happy to report that we did not feel that the group was too large except when boarding a local bus in Dubrovnik. We enjoyed meeting the other 26 people and had some great conversations. Our guide, Saso was fantastic. Also the city guides were all excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably Dubrovnik. I had seen many pictures of the place but walking the wall and looking either at the town or the sea was amazing."

Richard

Arlington, VA

Tour: 09/09/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A wonderful combination of physical beauty (both in the interior and along the coast) and fascinating history (ancient, medieval, World War I and the wars in the '90s); elegant cities (Ljubljana and Split) and charming small towns and villages; and memorable encounters with the locals.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hearing from Alma, our local guide in Mostar, and from a shop clerk, what the people of that town endured in the '90s war, and hearing what Sanel, our local guide in Stolac, is doing on a daily basis to bridge ethnic differences among the children of his town."

Everal

Berkeley, CA

Tour: 09/09/14

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour went to a lot of great places, places I liked, but we did hit some very bad weather and that always makes it harder to get around. It was a good tour group. As usual, the Rick Steves tours attract interesting, adventurous people who are fun to be with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Croatian coastline is beautiful, I dreamed of being on one of the sailboats that glided by with carefree people aboard. Looked like fun."

Eileen

Seattle, WA

Tour: 09/09/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was nothing less than amazing.
Being the first tour that I was about to embark on,I had many reservations about going on a structured tour and spending 14 days in what may be uncomfortable accommodations with people that I may or may not have anything in common, driving for hours on end and staring out of a bus window, marginal food, blah, blah,blah. All things that I find were just things that I didn't have to worry about at all on this tour.
It was an enjoyable trip of a lifetime!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were too many "WOW! moments to isolate it to one.
Each day had it's "WOW" moment. And many days had more than one."

Helen

Roslyn Heights, NY

Tour: 09/07/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A very comprehensive and beautiful tour of the Adriatic area with a very excellent, knowledgeable tour guide Anja as well as the local guides. My husband and I could not have done this trip on our own, covering the mileage and learning all the information of this very interesting area. An incredible history lesson.The size of the group, 28, was good and all the fellow travelers a pleasure to have met.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of the Adriatic coastline. Would love to come back and rent a sailboat to go to all the islands."

Becky

Decatur, GA

Tour: 09/07/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a great tour with lots of spectacular sights -- and some troubling recent history. There are mountains complete with lovely lakes and steep slopes, beautiful beaches, waterfalls, Roman ruins, and historic bridges and rivers. You can get incredible seafood and good wine. And you can try to comprehend how neighbors killed neighbors, particularly in scenic Bosnia.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me, the situation in Bosnia -- past and present -- was the thing I keep thinking about during and after the tour. We had a great local guide in Mostar who explained how so much of the city came to be destroyed and another great local guide in Stolac, who is working with the youth to build back community amid continuing ethnic/religious divisions. Travel is enlightening, and this was an important experience to try to understand."

Diane

New Bern, NC

Tour: 09/07/14

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

It was a very insightful tour of the Adriatic. I really enjoyed the time in Slovenia.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved lake Bled and Plitvice National Park. Even though it poured rain during our time at Plitvice it was still a wonderful experience to walk through the park."

Barbara

San Jose, CA

Tour: 09/07/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enjoyed visiting the Adriatic Coast. Had beauty, history, charm. Anja was amazing guide. Spoke slowly, distinctly, knew the history of the area. She was in touch with the group. She would walk to the end of the bus during the tour to make sure we were comfortable and to visit. She gave us our free time and suggestions on how to use it and what restaurants to visit. She would repeat ideas to make sure we understood.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a lot of "wow" moments. One pick was the Dalmation Islands"

Cary

Portland, OR

Tour: 09/07/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic tour!! We had high expectations for our sixth RS tour and we weren't disappointed. Ljubljana was a very pleasant city to start the tour. Lake Bled was as scenic as advertised. Motovun was spectacular, particularly as experienced from the Hotel Kastel. We had heavy rain at Plitvice Lakes NP, but somehow managed to get a hike in. Split and Dubrovnik provided wonderful walks through history. Korcula was a perfect place to slow down and enjoy the Adriatic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I'll never forget the views of Motovun from above the morning clouds, the torrents of water cascading into the lakes during the rains at Plitvice, or the color and clarity of the Adriatic. Another wow moment was realizing how far some of the places we visited have come since the war they experienced only 20 years ago (and how far they still have to go)."

Stewart

Somerset, NJ

Tour: 09/07/14

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was very good. We saw so much more than possible on our own and it was quite efficient. The pace was good but would have liked to get started an hour or so later at say 9:30 AM (rather than 8:15 AM as we sometimes did) especially when we were staying in the same hotel another night. The hotels were better than expected.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"-Our time on the Croatian island of Korcula. The hotel was very nice and the view of the Adriatic and pool was fabulous. Walking around the harbor/marina with all the yachts was great; as was the view from the lounge recommended by Anja.
Lake Bled and Dubrovnik were also close behind."

Earl

Eugene, OR

Tour: 09/07/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our group was comprised of twenty-plus hearty individuals, any one of which I would be delighted to see again, advancing up my walkway for a visit. Together we toured Croatia and Slovenia for fourteen days, in the company of competent guides who knew what they were about and shared their treasure with enthusiasm and grace.
Tour accommodations, food, appeal of sites visited and transportation were all first rate.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a lot of "wow" moments - breathtaking mountain top vistas;
switch back alpine turns that took your breath away; endless forests
cradling the gem blue water of the sea ; and, here and there,an ancient castle to ring the note of history in.
And, to underscore the wonder of it all, a team of skiers, in bright sunshine, taking the air from the broad back of a carpeted jump newly rising on a nearby mountain face."

Colin

Edmonds, WA

Tour: 09/07/14

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

This was my third tour. I was expecting it to be as unique and memorable as the Turkey and Spanish tours. That was not the case. Somewhere along the line, either during or before, the criteria for a great tour shifted under my feet. I wanted more time in some places such as Plitvice, Stolac, Pula and Ston, less time in Rovjinj and Opatija. It may be as simple as, it is time for me to travel on my own again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sonel and his story were the highlight of the trip for me. His willingness to live his life as a "human" being and not as ethnic, religious being. He reminded me of what is really important in life, especially his ongoing efforts in working with the youth of his area so there is not a repeat of the civil war."

Jill

Vancouver, BC

Tour: 09/07/14

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This tour offered an opportunity to visit a beautiful area with turbulent recent history and lots of variety. Ljubljana and Split are lively cities. Motovun and Korcula are absolutely charming. Mostar and Dubrovnik are full of history. There is wonderful scenery and beautiful architecture in many areas of the Adriatic. Our guide, Anja, and the local guides were all terrific. In short, it was a very interesting and enjoyable tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Do I have to choose just one? I was wowed by our arrival in charming Motovun, the liveliness of Ljubljana and Split, our tour of Mostar, and walking around the Dubrovnik wall."

LaMar

Boca Raton, FL

Tour: 09/02/14

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The Best of the Adriatic in 14 days is a great way to experience this history laden area, which has a disturbing and tragic story to tell in the fairly recent wars over the breakup of the former Yugoslavian country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had a chance encounter with a priest at the Tvrdos Monastery church, who was very engaging and enthusiastic, even though I didn't understand a word he was saying. The church is amazing and extremely interesting and the inside is covered with beautiful icon paintings. The church and the priest was a great experience."

Gail

Taylor, MI

Tour: 09/02/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

the tour was very educational but still gave us plenty of time for leasure and fun. I would have liked to have spent more time in Mostar. Maybe arrive erlier in the day to give us more time to appreciate the city. All of the food was very good and it was great that you had a choice of dinner if you did not want fish. Amir was very knowledgable and always concerned for us. He was a great guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"visiting the town of Stolac and hearing stories from a real hero. The food in Stolac was fantastic. Taking the ferry over to Hvar from Split was a great addition to the trip."

Robert

Taylor, MI

Tour: 09/02/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We learned so much on this tour. Amir shared his personal experiences and losses. This certainly crystallizes our understanding of the area and it's people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The trip to the village in Bosnia, where we had the privilege to shop and support those still trying to recover in a war-torn region."

Luanne

Mill Valley, CA

Tour: 09/02/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was really quite wonderful. Our guide, Amir was top notch ...smart, funny, and extremely knowledgeable about the areas we visited. We were so lucky to be able to share it through his eyes. Plus, our group was just perfect. Truly, an intellectually curious and fun group. And Robin, from your office, spent several days with us which was a real treat. She is terrific.

Patricia

Auburn, WA

Tour: 09/02/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was great. None of the three countries visited looked like I imagined they might. I've never been much of a history buff, but now have a beginning understanding of the former Yugoslavia, and more importantly, now I have a framework for attaching new information, and a curiosity for learning more about the area. I really enjoyed our fellow tour members, and our guide, Amir, was fantastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was too much good stuff to pick a favorite, but if I had to, it was hiking through Plitvice Lakes National Park."

Jay

Mission Viejo, CA

Tour: 09/02/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour provided a great mix of beautiful terrain (scenery), tastes, and cultural experiences. I enjoyed the mountains of Slovenia, the rocky coastlines of Croatia, and the rivers and greenery of interior Bosnia and Croatia. Klobasa, truffles, seafood, Italian influenced pastas, grilled meats, Bosnian baklava, were great washed down with some Teran or Plavac Mali. Also, I had never been in a Muslim Mosque or an Eastern Orthodox Monastery, and found both very interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think seeing the people of Mostar and Stolac getting on with their lives with a seemingly positive spirit, and hearing first hand stories from our guides as to what happened only 20 years ago was a real "wow" moment. This area is so beautiful, and I'm rooting for the people of Bosnia to come together in harmony again as it once was."

William

Mill Valley, CA

Tour: 09/02/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As our guide, Amir, said, "More history than you can stand." We were delighted not only by the historical overabundance, but also the beauty of these countries, the friendly and helpful people, and amazing old-world cities. It all made for an intense travel experience. In addition, this was the most compatible, cooperative and fun-loving RS group we've traveled with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The first view of the crystal clear Adriatic in Istria. And the sun came out! Finally getting our feet wet in the sea in Korcula (would have gone all in if that day hadn't been rainy on our "free-to-relax day") We did get some rain now and again."

Ann

Dublin, OH

Tour: 09/02/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Adriatic Tour was filled with beautiful scenery, hiking opportunities in amazing places, and filled with history. We were so lucky to have Amir as our guide who provided us so much insight into the difficult times in the Balkans.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many WOW moments. Plitvice National Park is one of the most beautiful places I have seen. We were so lucky to have been able to hike there as parts of it were still flooded due to the heavy recent rain. The many waterfalls and views were amazing.
Other WOWS include:
1. The -The Julian Alps and our amazing driver, Tomas!
2. The Old Bosnian Bridge in Mostar.
3. Walking the walled city of Dubrovink and looking over the Adriatic Sea."

Sheila

Boca Raton, FL

Tour: 09/02/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

At first I thought the "Rick Steves Tour" was a little "cult like" with everyone commenting on their past tours. Then the name game sort of enhanced that perception. However, once I drank the kool-aid I sort of got the idea of making new friends. I thought the whole tour was very professional and I appreciated that aspect of the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved it all - the ancient history, the modern history, the beautiful cities. Plitvice was especially memorable. We were very lucky to have very few tourists in the park. The experice would have been much different with hoards of hikers."

Gayle

Sacramento, CA

Tour: 09/02/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

One of the best trips I've taken. The weather could have been better but we dealt with it and I was glad nothing was left out because of it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Very difficult to choose just one. Every day we experienced "wow" moments. Everything was more than I anticipated."

Geraldine

Midlothian, VA

Tour: 08/31/14

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Even though the weather was not super cooperative, I still loved this trip. I learned so much from all of our guides [INVALID] local as well as Ben and Sanel. We had a bunch of Rick Steves' tour veterans with us so we all went with the flow. Sometimes literally, especially in Dubrovnic.
Hearing first hand from Sanel and our local Mostar guide about their wartime experiences was very sobering and instructive.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I guess you may hear this from many of us, but the Mostar bridge was an amazing symbol of hope and peace. We even had a lull in the rain so that we could enjoy it all the more. The Dervish monastery at Blagaj was another such moment. It was so peaceful and beautiful there."

Lucy

Corvallis, OR

Tour: 08/31/14

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

First RS tour . . . very excited re how much got packed into 14 days. Given the pace, that is long enough--I was tired!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Perhaps Bosnia . . . finally brought the war home."

Barbara

Berkeley, CA

Tour: 08/31/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great trip and all my specific comments are below. The guide, Ben Curtis, the group, all of them, and the countries we visited, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, were fantastic. Will definitely sign up for my 5th Rick Steves trip soon.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One of my favorite "wow" moments was walking through the Hole in the Wall to the cliff-side bar outside of the Dubrovnik fortified walls, and seeing the lightening and angry ocean moments before an epic rainstorm hit. What an amazing experience.
Also, another "wow" moment was getting the check after a lovely lunch in Hvar with three of my tour mates and finding out that the bottle of plavac red wine WITH the donkey on the label that we were encouraged to try, cost $70!!! It really was good."

Marguerite

Boonton, NJ

Tour: 08/31/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, a great experience. I had never been on any tour before, and was amazed by how smoothly the whole trip ran. A great group to travel with, a knowledgeable and well-organized tour guide, wonderful assistant tour guide and bus driver all helped make the entire experience a pleasure. A very busy itinerary with a mix of beautiful and interesting stops and a good amount of fun times made me very glad I'd chosen this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Several "wow" moments, impossible to choose one. No matter how many photos I had seen, the fairy tale beauty of Lake Bled, the waterfalls of Plitvice National Park, and views from the walls of Dubrovnik took my breath away. Completely unexpected and equally amazing was the magic of Split at night. And perhaps most memorable, the walk through Stolac with our assistant guide, Senal."

Deborah

Bellingham, WA

Tour: 08/31/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As usual we had amazing guides. The local guides were wonderful and our tour guides Ben and Sanel made the trip not only fun but full of information and unforgettable experiences. Even though the weather was unusual, (very wet), every moment was an experience I will not forget. There were many more emotional moments on this tour than past tours because of recent history in this region but I am glad for the touching moments and would not have wanted to miss this experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many.
1. The evening walk in Split. Coming around the corner and entering Diocletian's Palace left me without words. It was a full moon and the evening was warm and full of music and eye popping architecture.
2. In Split again the next day walking through the Palace and coming upon the Klapa Men singing in a dome acoustically perfect for the Acapella group. I was moved to tears.
3. Mostar.Once again was so moved by the local guide, Alma, telling her personal experiences during the war. Wow"

Marjorie

Davis, CA

Tour: 08/31/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I continue to be impressed with the thoughtful itineraries that cover a lot of ground in an efficent way, provide a variety of activities, including free time to explore and some time for relaxation, and are wonderful learning experiences about history and different cultures. I also marvel that all the guides are terrific - marvelous people to get to know and excellent communicators. This is my third tour and I have always felt fortunate to be able to travel with each of the guides assigned.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Really the wow moment was realizing what terrific people I was traveling with - guides and fellow tour members. As far as wow places, there were two: entering the Diocletian Palace in Split at night when it was all lit up and rounding a corner on the bus to get my first glimpse of the old walled city of Dubrovnik."

Joan

Raleigh, NC

Tour: 08/31/14

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A very different tour with very few museums and not much art, but a lot of history from both the remote and recent past. We saw lots of well preserved medieval walled cities as well as bullet scared building from the wars in the 1990s. The landscape from alps to hill towns to Adriatic coast and islands was impressive.
We also battled rain, wind and storm with a great group that rose to every occasion.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Moreska dance in Korcula was the biggest surprise. I expected it to be a tourist oriented performance, but when the sparks started flying and the occasional sword went flying as well it was really spectacular. Especially on a warm, moonlit, rain free night. The other wow moment was encountering a klapa group in the vestibule of Diocletian's palace in Split--soaring walls and wonderful acoustics."

Mark

Olympia, WA

Tour: 08/24/14

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall an excellent trip-lots of AHA moments.Great group, great guide and many fascinating stops along the way.In reflection the trip might have been a little too ambitious-and by that I mean covering too much territory and too many stops. 8 hotels in 13 days was bit much & there was a lot of time on the bus along winding roads. The Julian Alps and Kobarid were disappointing & I don't think worth the time & torturous bus ride to get there. However everything along the Adriatic was great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dubrovnik (with the Plicvice National Park a close second)."

Deborah

London,

Tour: 08/24/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed the trip very much! The variety was outstanding - from the beauty of Plativice to the destruction in Bosnia. The trip was a great history lesson.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had two wow moments. The first was the beauty of the lakes and waterfalls at Plativice. The second wow was our local guide in Bosnia telling us about his experience of being rounded up at 9 years old and being taken to a concentration camp. It was a very moving experience, and one that will stay with me forever."

James

Alexandria, VA

Tour: 08/24/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I usually travel independently, but for this itinerary, a tour was ideal. I appreciate the attention to history and culture. Barbara provided a wealth of information and patiently answered all our questions. The local guides were also great. I won't say I am a convert to group touring, but the smaller group and personable guide made this much preferable to your standard package tour so I'm glad I did this one.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is hard to pick one moment that stands out as we saw so much. Split was amazing with a medieval city built among the ruins of a Roman emperor's palace where people still live. Yet, it has all the buzz of a large modern city. It is summed up by being served a drink in the evening sitting on the steps of Diolcetian's palace surrounded by Roman columns and Venetian buildings and a guitar player singing modern music. I also enjoyed getting off the beaten path in Bosnia."

Alan

Greenbelt, MD

Tour: 08/24/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From start to finish this was a great tour. Barbara was a magnificent guide informing us of the history and culture of the area and each site we visited. Her assistant, Casey was invaluable helping with many minor details. Our bus driver, Alex, was also superb daily demonstrating his driving skills, particularly in the Julian Alps. The local guides were Aldo excellent especially in Mostar and Kobarid.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many "wow" moments. The drive through the Julian Alps with its fifty switchbacks. The museum in Kobarid describing the area during the two world wars. My first visit to a walled city at Motovun. Our visits to Plitvice, Korcula, Mostar, and Stolac. And of course, the liveliness of Split and Dubrovnik."

Wayne

Citrus Heights, CA

Tour: 08/24/14

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good itinerary , hotels , food , primary tour Guide .
Boring local guides and impossible to hear ( maybe a blessing ) . All Local guides could be replaced with 15 minute videos this would save money and time .
Like your organization but lose the local guides.
Tour of WW1 museum was a disaster.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Evening in Split was best ."

William

Berkeley, CA

Tour: 05/18/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour was great.
I especially liked Mostar and Dubrovnik."

Rebecca

Brownsville, CA

Tour: 05/13/14

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Best lesson plans ever. You've got it down.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Julian Alps were a huge surprise. I was awe struck."

Weather

Slovenia / Ljubljana

Croatia / Split

Croatia / Dubrovnik

Bosnia-Herzegovina / Mostar

Pre-Tour

We've put together some specific information on what you should know about this tour before you go. You'll also find more general information about "Getting Ready for Your Tour" on our Tour FAQ.

Trip Resources

Learn more about Croatia and Slovenia: Check out a collection of Rick's TV shows, radio interviews and articles, plus find a list of recommended books and movies.

Transportation

Prior to your tour departure, you will receive detailed directions on how to get from the airport to your first tour hotel, as well as contact information for your first and last hotels in case you wish to book pre- or post-tour hotel accommodations.

Many tour members arrive a day or two before the tour begins — and those who don't, wish they had. This allows you ample time to get over jet lag and make the most of the first few days of the tour.

There is more than one way to get to and from your tour. Most tour members will arrange to fly into Ljubljana (or into Zagreb with a train link to Ljubljana) and out of Dubrovnik (“multi-city” on flight booking websites). Ljubljana's airport, Aerodrom Ljubljana (LJU), is about 14 miles from the city center. See www.lju-airport.si for details. Most major airlines serve Ljubljana, but you can also look into Adria Airways, EasyJet and Wizz for alternate one-way jaunts. Your travel agent can help you find what works best for you.

There is also daily rail service to Ljubljana from Munich, Vienna, Venice, Budapest and Zagreb; details can be found at www.slo-zeleznice.si.

To return home after the tour, you’ll find that many flights out of Dubrovnik require a connection through Zagreb.

If you have additional European travel or tour questions, contact the Tour Department at 425-608-4217 or email tour@ricksteves.com.

Sightseeing On Your Own

If you arrive in Slovenia before your tour begins, use the Rick Steves Croatia & Slovenia guidebook to get oriented. Ride the public transportation, try out a few words of Slovenian (although many locals speak English well), and get over your jet lag with fresh air and exercise.

Here are suggestions for sightseeing in Ljubljana that we will not be doing as a group (see your guidebook for details): Plečnik House Museum; Slovenian Ethnographic Museum; Contemporary History Museum; antique-browsing at the riverside flea market; day-trip to Škocjan Caves.